Mumbai: Wires, entry curbs at Mantralaya to check protest jumps

MUMBAI: The state government has decided to install invisible steel wires on the windows along the corridors and other such spaces in Mantralaya within a month to prevent protesters from jumping off the building.
In a notification to the effect, the government also mentioned other restrictions like capping the number of visitors. On Tuesday, a youth demanding teacher recruitment jumped off the Mantralaya building.He fell onto the safety net on the second floor. The nets were installed some years ago to prevent suicides.
Among the other key points in the notification are online passes after registration of all details of visitors, providing them with time slots and having colour-coded entry passes for different floors. The notification said that since the establishment houses the offices of the chief minister and other ministers along with the offices of important administrative departments, the security of the building was of utmost importance.
Other restrictions include entry for only the chief minister, ministers and security vehicles at the main gate, no entry for visitors after 5.30pm, and no carrying food except for staff lunch boxes. A security room at the Metro subway will check staff entering the building once the underground transport system becomes operational. No unauthorised person will be permitted to go to the terrace.
Leader of the opposition Vijay Wadettiwar said citing security reasons, the government had created obstacles for the common man visiting Mantralaya. "The government should work for the people, give them justice, why create hurdles for them?" he said.
Last month over 20 people affected by a dam project walked onto the safety net suspended on the premises to raise their demands. On Tuesday, the police arrested 35-year-old Ranjit Avhad from Pathardi, Ahmednagar district, on charges of attempting to commit suicide after he jumped from the second floor of Mantralaya and fell onto the safety net. Avhad had entered Mantralaya after obtaining a pass.